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Story: Wetlands

Swamp forest, Lake Wahapo

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Swamp forest, Lake Wahapo

Dense kahikatea forest edged with flax surrounds Lake Wahopo in Westland. Such forests were once abundant on the West Coast, but were felled for their valuable timber. Kahikatea grows on fertile soils, and cleared areas were quickly turned into productive dairy farms.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10054003

by Philippe Gerbeaux

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How to cite this page

Peter Johnson, Wetlands – Wetland forests and shrubs, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14340/swamp-forest-lake-wahapo (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Peter Johnson, published 1 March 2009.